National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1887-06-18
what Shall We Do with the Flags {?

We should do just what the law directs
to lie done. In vol. 3, page 1873, U. S. Stat.
at Large, the law can be found. The first
section makes 1t the duty of the Secretaries
Of War and Navy to collect at the seat OF
government such captured flags, stand
ards, End colors" as shall have been, or
may hereafter be, taken by the army and
navy of the United States from, their enc.
mics. Section 9 requires them to be "de-
livered to the President of the United States
for the purpose Of being, under his direc-
tion, preserved and displayed In such pub.
lie place as he shall deem proper"
This should settle the question as to what
is to be done. Congress has provided no
"public place" in which these and other
trophies of war can be "preserved and dis.
played" aud it will devolve upon the Fiji
tieth Congress to remedy that omission.
We have no doubt, the attention Of Presi-
dent Cleveland having been called to the
law, that he will, In his first message to the
Fiftieth Congress, recommend the erection
of suitable building to enable him to dis
charge the duty imposed on him by this
act.
The NATIONAL REPUBLICAN would sug-
gest the construction of building under
the control Of the Smithsonian Institution,
suitable to the dignity Of the articles to be
placed therein, where all the trophies OF
every war, from that which secured our in
dependence to the present time, can be
s'preserved and displayed"
A building 'ssuitable to the dignity" Of
the relics would be a noble one, for there
would be flags and standards and trophies
that have been baptized IN the blood of the
bravest Of Americas sons from the earliest
days Of the republic.
Let such q building be erected, and put
there every relic OF the revolutionary war
that is now In the possession OF or can be
procured by the government; every one OF
the war Of 1912, all of those of the war with
Mexico, and all of the war OF the rebellion.
Let us see the trophies of the valor of our
fathers and grandfathers, and let future
generations see them.
By all means let us have "publlc place
prepared for the purpose, and commensur-
ate with the dignity and honor Of the govern
ment, where all trophies Of war can be "pre'
served and displayed" by the president o.
the United States to preserve the records
OF history.
1t is rather curious that those In ofiict
should have so soon forgotten that In lSS;
two regimental associations, formed from
the 1OSth Ohio and the 51st Pennsylvania
applied to the Secretary of War for the re
turn OF their regimental flags captured b.
the confederates, recaptured by the Unior
troops, and Ia possession Of the War De
partment, and were informed that thes,
flags were the property Of the government
and could only be disposed OF by Congress
Each of the associations applied to Con
gress, and by acts approved Aug. 8, 1882
the flags were given to the associations.
II Adjutant General Drum and the Secre
tary Of War had been familiar with the law
and records Of the War Department the
would not have placed the President In
false position, as they have done. Tn
President writes to the War Depart
ment, after careful deliberation, tina
"he return Of The flags is not autho'
ized by eriSting law nor justified a
an ezccutire act," and he might truthful
have added that 1t never would be. Thi
heavy slap at the War Department
and Messrs Endicott and Drum shoul
resign. A confederate Democratic Attorne
General as an adviser is much safer for th
administration than toady or MugwumI